Suction means for feeding powdered fuel to fire boxes



F. L. MCGAHAN, DECD. v. K. WALKER. ADMINISTRATRIX. SUCTION MEANS FOR FEEDING POWDERED FUEL TO FIRE BOXES. L488 539.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. 17, I I9- 7 Patented Dec. 12, 1922:

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR:

F. L, MCGAHAN, D ECD.

v. K. WALKER, ADMINISTRATRIX.

SUCTION MEANS FOR FEEDING POWDERED FUEL T0 FIRE BOXES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, I9I9- 1 43 539 Patented Dec. 12, 1922,

Fig 3 SHEETS-SHEU 2.

F. L. McGAHAN, DECfD. V. K. WALKER. ADMINISTRATRIXI. SUCTION MEANS FOR FEEDING POWDERED FUEL T0 FIRE BOXES.

I APPLICATION FILED JAN-17.1919- Li8,539.- Patented Dec. 12, 15922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

FREDERICK L. MoGAI-IAN,

OF LOS'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; VIOLA.K. WALKER, ADMIN- ISTRATRIX OF SAID FREDERICK L. MCGAHAN,'DECEASED, ASSIGNOR TO THE PUR- POSED MIND DEVELOPMENT SECURITY ASSOCIATION OF THE WORLD, A TRUST COMPANY.

SUCTION MEANS FOR FEEDING POWDERED FUEL TO FIRE BOXES.

Original application filed January 3, 1918, Serial No. 210,146. .Divided and this application filed January 17, 1919. Serial No. 271,714.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. McCain.-

H AN, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at the c1 t y,of Los' Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction Means for Feeding Powdered Fuel to Fire Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

1 This application is a division from the application of the same inventor for patent for locomotive filed January 3, 1918, Serial 210.146, Patent Number 1,292,399. Jan. 21, 1919, and relates more particularly to the suction means for supplying powdered fuel to the fire-box.

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of an engine cab showing the fire-box and the fuel inlets in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.-

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an engine cab partly broken away and showing the fire-box in section.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viewof the turbine and fan comprising the suction means for drawing the powdered fuel into the fire-box and the products of combustion from the fire-box into the smoke-box.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a locomotive, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in dotted lines to show more clearly how the turbine driven fan draws the products of combustion intothe smokebox.

Referring to the drawings, it is seen that the fire-box 1 is provided with the usual grate 13 and is located in the usual relation to the cab 2 and fuel, preferably powdered fuel, is fed to the fire-box from the source of supply or hopper 7 through the flexible joint 8, pipe 9, inlet pipe 10 and nozzles 12, it being understood that parts 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 are in duplicate and located on opposite sides 'of the locomotive. Leading from the tube sheet 14 are fire tubes 16 which extend from the fire-box 1 to the smoke box 56 of the locomotive as will clearly be seen" by an inspection of Fig. 4. Located within the smoke box 56 is the turbine 6 driven by exhaust steam supplied through the pipes 57- from the locomotive cylinders 55. The turbine 6 drives fan 4. shown most clearly by Fig. 3. and the fan 4 so driven rreat es a suction in the fire-box 1 and thereby draws thereinto powdered fuel through the pipes 9 and 10 and the nozzles 12. The fuel so drawn into the fire-box 1 through the nozzles 12 meets at the combustion point 17 underneath the lower side of the firebrick arch 18 which is supported by water tubes 19 independently of the grate 13.

The operation of the invention is very simple. The turbine driven fan creates a suction in the smoke-box and fire-box of the locomotive, thereby drawing the powdered fuel into the fire-box where it is ignited and the products of combustion then pass through the fire tubes 16 into the smoke box 56 and thence into the turbine 6 through ferred to, and the steam passes into pipe 38 and into turbine 59 which is thereby actuated as described in the said patent.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a locomotive in which the separate fuel feeding means and draft creating means are dispensed with and instead I have provided a single economically operated means that acts to draw the fuel into the fire-box and- V at the same time creates the necessary draft therein and in the smoke box in order to assist the. combustion and draw the smoke and products of combustionfrom the firebox into the smoke box.- By locating the suction creating means in the smoke box I economize on space and provide for the ready removal of the products of combustion from the smoke box as above described. There results an even and continuous feed of powdered fuel that is much more desirable and efiicient than the ununiform' and spasmodic firing by firemen.

Having thus described this invention, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts,

as it is evident that many minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In a locomotive. the combination of a firebox and a smoke box, fire tubes leading from locomotive cylinders 'fuel to the fire-box,

the fire-box into the smoke box, suction creating means located Within the smoke box, said suction creating means comprising a turbine driven by exhaust Steam from the and a fan driven by said turbine, means for supplying powdered said fan being arranged to draw the powdered fuel into the fire-box messes Where it is ignited and to draw the products of combustion through the fire tubes into 10 the smoke box and thence into the turbine to mix with the steam therein and exhaust With the steam therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

rennnmou L. MOGAHAN. 

